Advice on CIT Colony / Alwarpet

sg402

Yes, I am settling in great, Nick. Thanks for all the posted advice which aided the transition. Also, I think creating a nice space for yourself at home is always comforting anywhere in the world, but esp. critical in India.

As for ordering water, I ordered from Aquafina & had to cancel it b/c I could not even begin to lift the 25 Liter cans...not sure what to do about this. I'm not a weakling, but those things are not feather-weight! Heard about a device that can be attached to the bottom of the can, without the need to flip the can over into the dispenser. Looking for this now.

Also, just came home from my first Carnatic music concert at the Krishna Gana Sabha with some new expat friends...beautiful. I'm hoping to learn more about this artform in Chennai!

Thanks for the all the advice, friends. Folks who are heading to Chennai -- good luck!

Nick-H

This is where the delivery boy earns his tip! Get him to take the seal off the bottle and tip it up over the dispenser.

That's what I used to do. I can't lift them either... but then I am a weakling .

Glad to hear you enjoyed the carnatic performance; it is not everyone's cup of tea, at least not on first try. You have Narada Ghana Sabha just across TTK Road, down towards the flyover, and, of course, the Music Academy at the RK Salai/TTK Rd crossroads to name but two big places nearby, and some smaller. Flute Shashank, who you may come across some time, lives in CIT Colony.

sg402

Nick,
I grew up listening to a lot of classical Indian music, though not Carnatic. I truly enjoyed it & the Mridangam and the Ghatam (spelling) were fantastic! I went with a friend who is here on a Fulbright studying Carnatic music and really enjoyed it.

Good advice on getting the delivery guys to flip the cans of water.

Also, ANY advice on hiring a maid? My building has a security guard who lives behind the building and I take it he gets commission to place maids in the flats. Because he has been asking me if I want a maid or a cook. First he asked about Rs. 4000 (1000 monthly for a person to do all the cleaning, washing up, etc. + 3000 monthly for a woman to do cooking of 3 meals). I managed to bargain him down to 2200 a month for the same woman to do all the basic cleaning and cook my breakfast & dinner. Is this reasonable? And does it make sense to get the same person to do the cleaning & cooking. I like the idea of only managing one maid, but not sure if this makes culinary sense.

I seem to remember a service (Rose? Can't recall?) in Chennai where you can get a maid, that charges 1 month commission if the placement works out. Can someone give the name.

Again, thanks! Just when I think I am done...here's another question.

Nick-H

Interesting! perhaps we could meet for a concert sometime soon (assuming that the ENT man sorts my ears out tomorrow; I am as deaf as post just now, and missing concerts this weekend ).

I would hesitate before getting a maid through your security man. It might be fine; it might be very unfine. Talk to your neighbours; if the guy has been there decades and they say its ok, then it might be. Yes, there are agencies for domestic staff; I guess you can find them in the newspapers. They will charge a commission, as you say, but they are supposed to get and check references, and to file papers with the police (which I believe you can do yourself when taking on staff).

I think your 2200 (how many hours a day?) is too little (not often you hear me say that!). The most important thing is trust, which is why most people consider neighbour's recommendation the best way to go.

ISN

You can really say what your money is going to get you only after a month, make sure she can at least understand few English words, you might have to train her initially to cook American food, and trust is a big issue to be safe you might have to supervise her when she is inside the house. Update us on how things go once she starts working for you.

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caxman2002

Hi Nick, Hi Sg 402, wishing you all a happy DIwali!!~

Nick-H

Thanks: same to all

sg402

So the maid, Sita, has been coming for 5 days so far. She's doing a pretty nice job. Anyways, so far so good. The positive is that the neighbor recommended her as someone trustworthy and who has worked in the neighbor's home for 5-6 years now. She works in 2 other homes on the block & lives around the corner from me. She asked for Rs. 900 per month. My neighbor pays her Rs. 800 for working in her home. She does not speak but a handful of English words but the neighbor is excellent in that she speaks perfect English and is always home & willing to graciously translate for me. I did get the whole 'you can trust her, but still keep your valuables locked up in the almirah & watch her like a hawk at first' lecture from the neighbor.

sg402

strange item / shopping request:

does anyone know where you can buy a weighing scale (kg scale), like ones you'd keep in the bathroom in the US, etc? Any stores in Chennai that I should start my hunt in?

And fitted sheets...I guess I should have bought these with me, huh? Or will ask my friends / family to bring some over on their next trip..!

Happy Diwali to everyone! The bombs...uhmm..I mean firecrackers have already started in my neighborhood! I just came back from dinner out with some new friends and it was so sweet to see all the families out in their front yards lighting sparklers and firecrackers.

capt_mahajan

Bathroom scales are available at some supermarkets- the Food World types. Also fitness equipment shops.

Fitted sheets are more difficult but I would expect to find some at bigger departmental stores like Lifestyle Home or such.

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Outside the machine

ISN

Lifestyle Store http://www.lifestylestores.com/ near Alwarpet might carry the bathroom weighing scale and you can buy fitted sheets from them too, I like the sheets from Bombay Dyeing here is the address for their showroom

Bombay Dyeing
No. 15, Kakani Tower, Kadhar Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam, Nungambakkam High Road, Thousand Lights, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034, India
044 28330404

Bombay Dyeing Showroom
114, Prince Manor, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600010, India
044 42601888

Hetchsons Bombay Dyeing
No. 253, Hamid Building, Anna Salai, Thousand Lights, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002, India
044 28520514

Do you miss shopping in BIG BOX retail shops?

Nick-H

You can get a lot of weighing equipment from one street in Parry's (George Town). Maybe not bathroom scales, but everything from kitchen to commercial. I think it is in the Metal Mart area. Note that Chennaiites pronounce Parry's Paris.

Fitted sheets: Bombay Dyeing, yes --- but there is a nearer branch to you, if not several. There is one on Luz Church Road. Last time I asked about them, they said they made to measure, but that was five years ago.

dsrini

Hi sg402
I am staying in CIT Colony for the past few years. I am looking for a flat for rent in CIT Colony as the current house that I stay has some practical inconveniences. I saw your post that you managed to get a flat for Rs.18k in CIT Colony. May I know if there are any vacant flats in your block....I stay in 1st Link Street in CIT Colony.

Regards

sg402

I don't know of any vacant flats. I went through a broker b/c my company pays for that -- maybe you can start there.

Thanks!